Folding table.



J. A. BROWN. FOLDING TABLE. 1 APPLIOATION'I'ILED MAR.28, 191d. 983,674. Patented Feb.7, 1911.

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lnven Attorneys J. A. BROWN.

FOLDING TABLE. IIIIIIIIIIIIII 31) MAR. 28, 1910.

Patented Feb. '7, 1911.

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ssssssssssssssssssssssssssss nc ployed PATENT @FFIQE JAMES ALLEN BROWN, OF BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HOWARD W. PATTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

Application filed March 28, 1910. Serial No. 551,971.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs A. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at altimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Folding Table, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a table, adapted primarily, although not exclusively, to be employed by paperhangers, and others, whose calling requires a portable table which may readily be disposed in a compact form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table, adapted to be separated into two component parts, and to provide means for connecting the said parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roll top table, the legs and the braces on the table being so positioned and mounted, that they may readily be rolled up with the top of the table.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construc tion and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in that portion of this instrument wherein patentablo novelty is claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, divers changes in the form, propor tions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made, without departing from a the spirit of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are emto denote corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is an end elevation; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan; Fig. 3 is a side elevation; Fig. 4: is a transverse section;

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing the manner in which the braces and the tie interlock in alinement with a leg of the table; and Fig. 6 is a perspective showing the table closed together and rolled up.

The top of the table is divided, transversely of the table, into two substantially similar parts. One of these parts will be described specifically, it being understood, that, saving in so far as hereinafter modified, the

equal propriety to the other part.

l, a middle strip 2, and intermediate strips 3, disposed between the outer strips 1 and the middle strip 2. The intermediate strips 3 are preferably made somewhat narrower than the strips 1 and 2. When viewed in transverse sect-ion, the stripsv comprise a tongue 1 adapted to fit in a groove 5 of the I adjoining strip, and a lip 6, adapted to in- I terlock above the tongue 4: of the adjoining strip. The several strips 1, 2 and 3, are i united upon their lower surfaces, by a flexible strip 7 preferably of cloth or leather; l although, if desired, the several strips may i be hingedly connected together in any other manner, adapted to a like end. Disposed upon the lower faces of the outer strips 1, adjacent the meeting edges of the two sections which go to make up the table, fare wear plates 8, disposed in alinement I with wear plates 9, secured to the lower face I of the other section of the table top. The I wear plates 9 are provided at their ends, I with upstanding shoulders 10. Bolts 11 are mounted in the wear plates 8 and 9, and upon these bolts 11 are wing nuts 12, adapted to bear against bifurcated latch bars 14: i which are slidably mounted upon the bolts 11, the bifurcated latch bars being adapted to be advanced across the line of union between the sections of the table top and to be engaged by the wing nuts 12, so as to hold the two sections of the table together. 7 The bifurcated latch bars 14 are adapted to be slid into terminal abutment with the shoulders of the wear plates 9, and there to be locked, within the contour of one of the sections of the table top, by means of the wing nuts 12.

In the upper surfaces of the sections of the 1 table top, adjacent the meeting edges thereof, are channels 15 in which is slidably mounted a bifurcated latch bar 16, the same I being duplicated by a similar latch bar 17, l adapted to be mounted upon the lower face of the table top, bolts and wing nuts 18 being adapted to hold the latch bars 16 and 1 17 extended across the meeting edges of the sections of the table top, it being understood that the latch bars 16 and 17 are in vertical alinement with each other.

Legs 19 are hinged to the sections of the table top adjacent the remote ends of the said sections. These legs 19 are adapted to be folded down upon the table top transversely of the direction in which the table top may be rolled up. Located in the legs 19 adjacent the points where the said legs are hingedly connected with the table top, are pivot elements 20. One end of a tie 21 is pivotally mounted upon one of the said pivot elements, there being a notch 22 in the tie adjacent the other end of the tie, adapted to engage the other of said pivot elements. This tie, extending transversely of the table top, serves to support the table top, and to prevent the same from bulging downwardly, should the cloth 7 become stretched and loose. It is to be noted that when the legs 19 are swung into rectangular relation with respect to the table top, the upper edge of the tie 21 is disposed so close to the .top of the table that the notch 22 in the lower edge of the said tie cannot be removed from the pivotal element with which it is engaged, without folding the legs -19 into substantial parallelism with the top of the table. Thus, when the legs 19 are disposed in their normal, perpendicular positions with respect to the table top, the tie 21 is securely held in place against displacement.

Diagonally disposed, intersecting braces 23 are provided, the same, at their upper ends, being pivotally mounted upon the ele- I ments 20. At their lower ends, the diagonally disposed braces 23 are notched, to engage bolts and wing nuts 2% which are mounted in the legs 19.

It is to be noted that in the tie 21, and in the diagonal braces 23, there are notches 25. \Vhen the braces 23 and the tie 21 are moved into alinement with the legs 19, these notches 25 will engage the elements 24, the said elements being manipulable to maintain the braces and the tie in fixed alinement with the legs upon which they are mounted.

he wear plates8 and 9 are provided with extensions 26, having depending lips 27. To these lips 27 are pivoted the upper ends of supports 28, the lower ends of which are notched to be engaged by bolts and wing nuts 29, inserted into the side faces of the legs 19.

hen it is desired to knock down and roll up the table, the bolts and wing nuts 18 are loosened, permitting the latch bars 16 and 17 to be retracted, the wing nuts 12 being loosened upon the bolts 11, permitting the latch bars 1 1 .to be retracted into abutment with the shoulders 10 of the wear plates 9.

When the several latch bars 1a, 16 and 17 have been thus retracted, by the wing nuts, the said latch bars may be held in their retracted positions. The table is now separated into two constituent parts. The bolt and wing nut connections 29 are then loosened, permitting the free ends of the supports 28 to be swung against the table top. he bolt and wing nut connections 24; may then be loosened, whereupon the diagonal braces 23 may be swung into alinement with the legs 19. The legs 19 may be then swung into parallelism with the table top, and when the legs are thus disposed, it will be seen that the notch 22 in the tie 21 may be disengaged. from one of the pivot elements 20. The tie 21 is then swung into alinement with the leg 19 upon which it is pivotally mounted. All of the notches 25 in the members 21 and 23 may then be engaged by the bolt and wing nut connect-ions 2st, thus holding the braces 23 and the tie 21 in alinement with the legs 19. \Vhen the operation has proceeded thus far, the supports 28, the diagonal braces 23, the legs 19, and tie 21, will all be disposed in substantial parallelism with the several strips 1, 2 and 3. Each section of the table top may then be rolled up into compact form, the two rolled up portions being tied or strapped together face to face, disposing the device in acompact cylindrical form.

From the foregoing it will be seen .that a table of considerable dimensions may, by a simple operation, and without serious loss of time, be so rolled up and disposed in compact position, that the same may readily be carried about in a crowd, or in a public conveyance, without serious inconvenience.

Having thus described the invention, what is clain'i'ed is 1. In a table, a top comprising separable parts; wear plates mounted upon said parts adjacent the meeting edges thereof; legs hinged to .the top parts; supports, each pivoted at one end to one of the wear plates and at their other ends adapted to interlock with the legs; retaining elements extended through the wear plates into engagement with the top parts; a bifurcated latch bar slidable upon the retaining elements to extend across the meeting edges of the top parts; and clamping devices upon the retaining elements engaging the latch bar to hold the same upon both wear plates, whereby the latch bar, the wear plates and the supports may serve as a rigid connect-ion between the leg of one of the top parts and the leg of the other of said parts.

2. In a table, a top; legs hinged to the top; diagonal intersecting braces, each of manipulating which is pivoted adjacent one end to one leg; 1

lock with the other leg; the braces and the tie being movable into alinement With the legs upon Which they are mounted, and be- I ing cut away in their edges to provide for I their engagement with the clamping devices,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my slgnature 10 in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES ALLEN BROXVN.

whereby the latter may be manipulated to lVitnesses: engage the braces and the tie to hold the FRANK B. OOHSENREITER, same in alinement with the legs. C. E. DOYLE. 

